Journeyman
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Florida journeyman electrician exam

Updated · Written for the 2023 NEC

Short answer

Florida has no single statewide journeyman electrician exam. The state's Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board licenses contractors, while counties and cities issue journeyman licenses (often called a certificate of competency) under section 489.5335, Florida Statutes. State law sets a 75% minimum score on a proctored exam and requires a registered apprenticeship or 12,000 hours of on-the-job training. The exams are open book and are given by testing companies the county approves, such as Prov in Miami-Dade.

Who licenses journeyman electricians in Florida

Your county or city licenses journeyman electricians in Florida, not the state. The Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board licenses electrical and alarm contractors. Its statute defines certified and registered electrical contractors but does not define a journeyman license.

Section 489.5335 authorizes counties and municipalities to issue journeyman licenses in the electrical and alarm system trades. Hillsborough County puts it plainly: "There is no State of Florida requirement for anyone to hold a Journeyman Certificate of Competency" (Hillsborough County application instructions). Whether you need one depends on where you work and what your employer requires.

A journeyman card does not let you contract. In Hillsborough the holder "must always work under the supervision of a properly licensed Electrical/Plumbing Contractor." The same section of state law says counties and municipalities must recognize a journeyman license issued by another Florida county or municipality, so one card is accepted across the state.

To start, contact the contractor licensing office in the county where you work, such as Hillsborough County Contractor Licensing or Miami-Dade County contractor examinations.

The Florida journeyman electrician exam

The exam is a single technical trade exam set by your county's testing company, so the details change from county to county. State law sets the 75% passing score. The table below uses Miami-Dade County as an example because it publishes the full exam outline.

ItemDetails
Who sets the examYour county, through an approved testing company (s. 489.5335)
Testing vendor (Miami-Dade)Prov, Inc. (candidate bulletin)
Questions (Miami-Dade)75 (exam descriptions)
Time limit (Miami-Dade)3 hours
Open bookYes (Miami-Dade, Hillsborough)
Passing score75% (state law and county rules)
Exam partsTechnical only, no business and law part (Miami-Dade categories)
NEC editionSet by each county's exam; Miami-Dade's posted outline lists the 2017 NEC
Retakes (Miami-Dade)Under county rules, with at least two days between attempts

Miami-Dade's biggest topic groups are wiring methods and materials (18 questions), general electrical theory (15) and wiring and protection (14). The listed references are the NEC and the American Electrician's Handbook, 16th edition.

Palm Beach County's exam information sheet says journeymen take only the trade exam, must test in Palm Beach County, must score 75% and must pass before the board reviews the application.

Requirements to take the exam

State law sets the minimum, and each county adds its own rules. Under section 489.5335, a county or city may issue a journeyman license if you:

  1. Score at least 75% on a proctored journeyman exam approved for the trade.
  2. Complete a registered, state-approved apprenticeship or have at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training in the trade.
  3. Complete trade-specific advanced module coursework approved by the Florida Building Commission, or show proof within 6 months if the county allows it.

County rules you will see:

  • Hillsborough: 12,000 hours (6 years) as an apprentice under a licensed contractor, or 8,000 hours (4 years) plus completion of a 4-year Florida approved apprenticeship. The application fee is $150 and the certificate registration fee is $70. The certificate does not expire (instructions).
  • Miami-Dade: the Construction Trades Qualifying Board's category list shows 3 years of experience for Journeyman Electrician (certification categories).
  • Palm Beach: a 4-year registered apprenticeship, or 2 years of apprenticeship plus 3 more years of supervised work, or 6 years of full-time work under a certified electrical contractor (journeyman application).

Florida journeyman electrician exam pass rate

Florida does not publish a journeyman electrician pass rate, because there is no state exam. The county offices and testing companies we checked do not publish one either.

For context only, Texas publishes official figures: its FY2025 journeyman electrician pass rate was 27.52%. That is a different exam, but it shows journeyman exams are often failed on the first try.

How hard is the Florida journeyman electrician exam?

It is hard mainly because of time and code lookups. Miami-Dade gives 75 questions in 3 hours, about 2.4 minutes per question, and you need 75% to pass. Open book helps only if you can find articles and tables fast.

The exam also tests more than the NEC. Miami-Dade puts 15 questions on electrical theory and lists the American Electrician's Handbook as a reference, so you need calculations and theory as well as code navigation.

How to pass the Florida journeyman electrician exam

Start by getting your county's exam description from the testing company once your application is approved. It tells you the question count, time limit, references and the NEC edition your exam uses.

  1. Confirm your NEC edition. Miami-Dade's posted outline lists the 2017 NEC; other counties may use other editions. Our practice questions follow the 2023 NEC, so check the changes between editions for the topics you study.
  2. Prepare your books by the rules. Miami-Dade's bulletin allows highlighting, ink underlining and permanent tabs, but no handwritten pencil notes, sticky notes, movable tabs or photocopies. Prov checks books before you enter the testing room.
  3. Practice finding answers fast. Learn the NEC index and the location of Chapter 3 wiring methods, Article 310 ampacity tables and Chapter 9 tables.
  4. Drill calculations. Box fill, conduit fill, voltage drop, motor circuits and load calculations come up in theory and code questions. Use our exam calculations guide.
  5. Take timed practice tests. Aim for a steady pace under 2.4 minutes per question. Start with our free practice test.
  6. Follow a plan. Our guide on how to pass the journeyman electrician exam walks through a study schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Does Florida have a state journeyman electrician license?

No. State law lets counties and cities issue journeyman licenses, and the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board licenses contractors. You apply through your county or city licensing office (s. 489.5335).

How many questions are on the Florida journeyman electrician exam?

It depends on the county. Miami-Dade's Journeyman Electrician exam has 75 questions with a 3-hour limit (exam descriptions). Check your county's exam description for yours.

What score do you need to pass the Florida journeyman electrician exam?

75%. State law requires at least 75% on a proctored journeyman exam, and Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties all use 75%.

Is a Florida county journeyman license good in other counties?

Yes. Under section 489.5335(2), counties and municipalities must recognize a journeyman license issued by another Florida county or municipality. Hillsborough says its certificate is recognized in all jurisdictions throughout the state.

Sources

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